New Career and Research Opportunities for Nurses and Midwives

April 02, 2014 1:16 PM

A new NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) Nursing and Midwifery Research Strategy was launched today (Wednesday 2 April) at the Royal College of Nursing Annual International Nursing Research Conference at the University of Glasgow.

The new strategy will help support NHSGGC’s nurses and midwives to undertake research. The initiative has been developed in collaboration with principal academic partners Glasgow, Caledonian and the West of Scotland Universities.

Its aim is to enhance the status, profile and research contribution of nursing and midwifery staff across NHSGGC.
Rosslyn Crocket, NHSGGC’s Board Nurse Director said "I am particularly proud that we are launching our collaborative Nursing and Midwifery Research Strategy with our three Higher Education Institutes at this conference, as I believe this will provide many opportunities to enhance our nursing and midwifery research and development portfolio for the benefit of our patients and staff alike."

Mari Brannigan, NHSGGC‘s Nurse Director, Partnerships, is leading the group who have developed the research strategy.
She said: “NHSGGC serves a population of around 1.2 million people, many of whom have a high prevalence of chronic and complex health care requirements.

“We have a long established reputation of excellence in leading research initiatives that benefit patients and improve the quality of care that we provide.

“Under this new programme there will be opportunities for nursing and midwifery professionals to increase their contribution to the research agenda and to pursue clinical academic careers.”

Nursing and midwifery staff will be supported to develop collaborations with academic departments.

Once funding opportunities for research, research training have been identified staff will be advised how to apply for them
An infrastructure will be set up to facilitate dissemination of research undertaken by nurses and midwives, e.g. for MSc dissertations, and increase its impact on practice.

Academic and clinical links will be established for research active staff and academics who wish to strengthen their links with practice.

And events will be organised to showcase research undertaken by NHSGGC nurses and midwives to facilitate networking.

Mari went on: “Nursing and midwifery professionals make up the majority of the NHS workforce, it is therefore essential that practice is based on the best available evidence.

“This initiative will help nurses and midwives contribute to and build upon the existing body of knowledge in order to improve care in a wide range of health care settings and to influence national healthcare priorities.”

There are existing areas of strength in nursing and midwifery across NHSGGC which address health priorities, and lead to programmes of research and collaboration with academic partners.

The strategy will build on that success and celebrate research outcomes that lead to improvements in patient care.

A spokesman for the University of Glasgow said: “We welcome this new strategy which recognises the role of nurses in healthcare provision and widens their opportunities to contribute to the broader education and research agenda.”

Heather Simpson, Head of University of the West of Scotland’s School of Health, Nursing and Midwifery, said:
“The creation of this strategy is a hugely important development - it will not only provide greater opportunities for practitioners, but will result in enhanced nursing and midwifery care.”

Professor Lynn Kilbride, Glasgow Caledonian University, Head of Department of Nursing and Community Health, said:
“Glasgow Caledonian University is delighted to be involved in this initiative. It recognises the importance of nursing and midwifery research for patient care, provides exciting development opportunities for individuals working in these professions and offers increased opportunities for collaboration across the University Partners and Health Service.”